So this was actually supposed to be the chapter right after the last one I posted. It was supposed to dump some exposition on how she had gotten much healthier and was ready to have surgery soon. It was also to drop some hints (SPOILER ALERT FOR THE FIC I GUESS) that Alice is an Unnatural. And also to show that Warner cares enough about Alice that he forces her to go inside.
I don't remember if anything was supposed to happen after taking her to her room, but I think it works as a chapter on its' own actually.
Tell me what you think? ;)
Enjoy~
Warner was on his way to the platform above the quadroon.
It had snowed during the night. And it had snowed a lot. So much that when Warner had assembled the soldiers to the quadroon that morning he had had to have someone shovel a path for him to even reach the fence without ruining his shoes.
Then he had had to stand out there in the cold for twenty minutes; instructing soldiers to remove the snow so that the civilians could go back to work. He had felt the resentment in the soldiers' eyes as they stood perfectly still in their rows and rows meanwhile he stood up on the roof in his warm winter jacket and scarf.
Though this time he did not have his jacket.
The reason for him to even go there was because he had noticed a cold breeze when he walked by the door leading there. He was pretty sure he had closed it last time he had been out there. And he had a feeling it wasn't cleaners bothering to shovel the rest of the snow.
He pushed open the already half open door and saw the white landscape stretch out like a rug beyond the fence. The snow smoothing out all the crooked shapes and colors with it's white flawless cover. It was actually quite a nice view. But he had other things to look at.
Like the numerous footprints in the snow.
And the girl to whom to footprints belonged. Who was occupied making snowballs. Wearing nothing but her pyjamas, an oversized jumper and a pair of slippers. Whom were barely visible in the deep snow.
He sucked in breath so fast all he managed to do was to cough.
"Alice?!", he choked out.
"Yes?" She looked up. Her cheeks in a healthy blush from the cold. Grey eyes shining with excitement. Blond locks proudly standing up on all ends.
"What are you doing here?!", he demanded. Stepping out to the snow covered pavement, leaving the door opened behind him. Not caring that the heat was being let out.
"There's snow out here!", she shouted. Throwing some in the air for extra effect with her bare hands. Then she giggled at the effect. Snow landed at the top of her head and melted in her hair.
She was standing in an area where they hadn't shoveled anything, since Warner only needed the fence to hold the assembled.
He cringed at the inside at the thought of her feet.
"How did you get out of your room?", he asked, not sharing the happy mood, as he starting walking up to her. His shoes contributing with more footprints.
She shrugged, but was still as upbeat.
"The door wasn't locked", she answered, seeming to be proud that he didn't have a reason to yell at her.
"And why?", he asked.
"Because I haven't been outside in forever!", she explained, making large eyes over that fact that he didn't understand from the get-go.
When he didn't remark on how right she was she crossed her arms.
"And Doctor Veens said I'm healthy enough to do it, so you can't say no." Then she knelt down and threw herself backwards and landed in the soft snow.
She laughed in joy and started scuffling her arms and legs back and forth. Completely covering her clothes in snow.
Warner, who had walked up to her by that point, just stood over her and watched.
"I doubt he meant that you were supposed do it in your pyjamas", he remarked.
Then he bent down and caught her wrist in his hand, which he used to pull her up with. Into a sitting position at least.
"For God sake your are ice cold!", he exclaimed when he noticed her temperature.
"Get inside before you freeze to death!", he coaxed.
But the girl would not oblige. She pulled her hand free and fell down into the snow once more. Sending a cloud of the powdery top layer into the air.
"I don't want to!", she giggled. Then she flipped over onto her stomach, as if to try and protect her rights of being able to play in the snow.
Warner felt his eyebrows raise too high to feel like he was in control of the situation; he thought for a moment, then sighed.
"Well then…", he muttred.
He bent down and got his hands around her stomach, ignoring the cold snow, braced a little, then heaved her up. He spun her a little, and managed to get her hanging over his shoulder. She realized her new position a little too late.
"Nooooo, put me down!", she whined. Then she halfheartedly tried squirming to make him lose his grip. But a bubbly giggle ruined the protest.
"I'm not letting you get pneumonia for playing in the snow", he responded, not bothered in the least by her wiggling.
She was actually alarmingly light compared to the first time they meet; when he had carried her in a similar fashion. He remembered all those times he had seen her with an IV in her arm. When was the last time she had a proper meal? How much weight had she lost?
But he ignored the cold feeling in his stomach and proceeded with carrying her inside.
"Don't I already have pneumonia?", Alice wondered; sounding very confused.
Warner had to scoff.
"They're two different things, it's just that they affect the lungs. It's like comparing the common cold to the flu", he responded. He was careful so that she wouldn't bump into the frame when he walked through the door. But when they were past that he just headed to the hospital wing in a brisk pace with Alice bouncing with his steps.
After the treatment had been administered Alice had returned to her talkative, questionable and rosy cheeked self in the matter of a few weeks. The last step was the surgery, and she was examined twice a day to ensure she wasn't catching any infections. He just hoped this incident wouldn't adventure their progress. After all, he had been spending so much time on the plague. Time he wanted to spend on other things.
When they got there plenty of soldiers had stared at them and all the snow Alice had gotten on her was melted.
He put her down outside her room and ushered her inside while he took of his suit jacket that had gotten wet from the little trip.
There was a nurse in there and she looked very surprised when they came in.
"Oh Alice! Where have you've been?", she asked, though she wasn't scolding in any way.
"We were wondering where you had disappeared to. And you're wet! Doctor Veens won't be happy about that", she tutted. She walked up to a bureau and started pulling out a towel and dry clothes.
"Do you need on as well, commander?", she asked after seeing he had a wet spot on his left shoulder.
"That won't be necessary", he replied. Fighting the urge to look at the spot. Though he didn't actually have to look at it. He could feel the cold water clam against his skin perfectly fine without looking.
"Just some snow", he waved off. Giving Alice a look, who countered his gaze in defiance.
"You were out in the snow Alice!", the nurse wondered. Closing the bureau and bringing with her the towel and new set of pyjamas.
"Yes!", Alice announced proudly. Taking the towel and starting to dry at her hair. Her hands rubbing at the outside of it.
"Was it you that found her, commander?", the nurse asked looking to Warner as she started unbuttoning Alice's wet pyjama shirt.
"Yes, it was. And I'm wondering how she came to be out there when I haven't given a permission for her to even be let out of this room."
The nurse frowned and looked at Alice, as if the child could give them a good answer.
"Yes Alice, why did you go to play in the snow in your pyjamas?"
Alice looked out from her towel.
"Doctor Veens said I was healthy enough to go outside", she answered.
"Well you could at least have brought a jacket, Alice. What if you get a cold now?", the nurse asked as she put away the wet shirt.
"I'll be fine!", Alice declared. Then, as if on queue, she sneezed.
Warner was quick to fetch a box of napkins that were standing on a side table near the door. He held it out for the girl, and she pulled one out, a little sulkily as she realized her defeat.
She blew her nose, and threw it in a waste bin beside the table.
"And that's why you don't roll around in the snow", Warner tsked.